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Duration of Copyright
Any person publicly performing or representing any dramatic composition for which a copyright has been obtained, without the consent of the proprietor thereof, or his heirs or assigns, shall be liable for damages therefor; such damages in all cases to be assessed at such sum, not less than $100.00 for the first, and $50.00 for every subsequent performance, as to the court shall appear to be just. Every person who shall print or publish any manuscript whatever, without the consent of the author or proprietor first obtained, shall be liable to the author or proprietor for all damages occasioned by such injury. The original term of copyright runs for twenty-eight years. Within six months before the end of that time, the author or designer, or his widow or his children, may secure a renewal for the further term of fourteen years, making forty-two years in all.
RENEWALS.
Application for renewal must be accompanied by explicit statement of ownership, in the case of the author, or of relationship, in the case of his heirs, and must state definitely the date and place of entry of the original copyright. Advertisement of renewal is to be made within two months of date of renewal certificate, in some newspaper, for four weeks.